Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra – Letters From Afar

This release by Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra is a joint Chinese-American project.  The back story is rather interesting.  From the Bandcamp website: In early 2020, we found ourselves separated and stuck at home. Even though four of us were in Beijing, COVID19 control measures prevented us from meeting face to face. Continue Reading

Andrew Land – (Making Good) Defects

Andrew Land is a composer out of Birmingham, England whose work is simple and rhythmic, played in an elegant manner, without sounding simplistic.  It’s minimalistic, so those of you who enjoy the works of Harold Budd, Philip Glass or even Hans-Joachim Roedelius may want to pass your time enjoying this Continue Reading

Maja S. K. Ratkje – Corona Lockdown Concert For TUSK Festival 2020

Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje is perhaps the most important active composer in Norway’s experimental music scene.  The Trondheim native not only works with avant-garde music, but with contemporary classical, choral, experimental, electronic and even rock music. She provides a new release which clocks in about 30 minutes of vocal improvisation Continue Reading

Marcos Resende & Index – Marcos Resende & Index

This album is a sort of ‘holy grail’ for Brazilian jazz.  From Marcos Resende’s Bandcamp site: Beyond their highly sought after 1978 album Festa Para Um Novo Rei – home to the mystical jazz-funk classic ‘Vidigal’ and released on Philips’ iconic Musica Popular Brasileira Contemporanea series (MPBC) – little is Continue Reading

Lappländer & Ancylus – Veden Varaan

Lappländer & Ancylus are a project hailing from Finland.  According to their bio, both Janne Lappalainen (Lappländer) and Visa Uotila (Ancylus) have over two decades of history working in electronic music. This is quite a powerful listen.  It reminds me of mid-period Tangerine Dream under the cavernous influence of Steve Continue Reading

Various Artists – Dust-To-Digital Records: Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music

This is a magnificent compilation of archival material. Dust-To-Digital has made a business out of release gorgeous archival recordings. Take for example the incredible collection called Music of Morocco, compiled by Paul Bowles. This collection will equal it. Music from South Africa, Japan, Algeria, Serbia, Colombia and all points in-between Continue Reading

Bolduchin – Shellac

It’s impressive to hear when those who work outside of music under normal circumstances bring their talents into music, especially of a dark ambient variety.  Giacomo Triglia, who works under the name Bolduchin, provides a bleak, yet very lively soundtracks to the horrible dreams we all have now and then.  Continue Reading